Congress President Sonia Gandhi launched the Food Security Scheme in New Delhi on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Speaking at an event in Delhi which was also attended by Chief Minister Sheila Diskhit and Food Minister KV Thomas, the Congress President said that the scheme would ensure that the poor in the country would not go hungry. “Our country still has people who don’t get food to eat, their children suffer from malnutrition. This scheme will legally ensure food for the poor in India,” she said. [caption id=“attachment_1047123” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Congress president Sonia Gandhi. AFP[/caption] “We have to be responsible for the precious lives of the poor and that is why the food security scheme was introduced,” she said. Speaking about corruption, she said that through the Aadhaar scheme the Congress has made sure that corruption is kept at bay and the poor get the share that they are entitled to. Corruption and possible leakage which could end up in intended beneficiaries not receiving their dues has been one of the primary criticisms against the food scheme which intends to provide subsidised food grain to 67 percent of the population. Playing on the aam aadmi card, Sonia said, “The Congress has always felt the pain of the Aam Aadmi. Serving the poor is the party’s only goal.” Heaping praise on the Sheila Dikshit government, Sonia said that she was certain the scheme would be successfully implemented in Delhi. “I applaud Sheila Dikshit and her co-workers for the work they have done. And I want them to continue fighting for the rights of the poor,” she said. “In the last fifteen years, Delhi has seen tremendous development, including the iconic Delhi metro,” Sonia added. She said that she wanted the women of the country to benefit from the various schemes introduced by the UPA government. “Through PDS and self-help groups I want my sisters to become self sufficient. I want the women of the country to contribute to its growth,” she said. She added that the eradication of poverty and development can be the only true tribute to Rajiv Gandhi.